1 pizza driver robbed, 1 assaulted

STOCKTON - One pizza deliveryman was robbed and another was pistol whipped Friday night, the latest in a series of armed robberies targeting delivery drivers in Stockton, authorities said.

The first incident occurred about 5:10 p.m. in the 1600 block of Tyrol Lane, the same location where two drivers were robbed while making deliveries to the same apartment complex earlier in the week, police said. This time, a 48-year-old driver was attempting to make a delivery when he discovered that the address was a vacant apartment, officers said.

The driver was then approached by three men who demanded that he empty his pockets, police said. The victim handed over three pizzas and all of his belongings, officers said. The robbers then fled north through the apartment complex, authorities said.

Two of the robbers were described as black men about 25 years old standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, police said. One of them was about 140 pounds with a black T-shirt, dark pants and a black handgun, authorities said. The third robber was described as a black man about 25 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 140 pounds, officers said.

Later in the evening, about 8:15 p.m., a 41-year-old man was attempting to deliver a pizza in the 2500 block of Wesley Lane when he was approached by two men who demanded his money, police said. When the driver said he had no money, the assailants struck him with a gun and fled on foot, officers said.

One of the assailants was described as a black man with a dark complexion, a yellow shirt and blue jeans, police said.

The victim was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, authorities said.

There were five robbery attempts involving delivery drivers in Stockton last week, and there have been eight this month, said Community Service Officer Rosie Calderon, a spokeswoman for the Stockton Police Department.